College probing charge that North Shore candidate made improper use of e-mails

"Ms. Rose would be the first to say that she has not knowingly sought to break any laws or skirt any laws to try and advance herself," a spokesman for Debi Rose, above, said.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The College of Staten Island (CSI) is looking into a charge that North Shore City Council candidate Debi Rose improperly used the college's e-mail system to conduct campaign business.

Ms. Rose is the executive director of CSI's Liberty Partnership program. The college is part of the City University of New York system, and it is against the rules to use CUNY facilities for political purposes.

"It's a personnel matter under review," said CSI communications director Ken Bach, adding that it's CUNY policy to not comment on personnel matters.

CSI president Dr. Tomas Morales received an anonymous letter about the alleged computer usage, Bach confirmed. That letter was copied to the Advance, the city Department of Investigation and the city Conflicts of Interest Board.

Those in the political world who also work for government or public entities are generally scrupulous about not using public e-mail accounts, phones, faxes or copy machines for political purposes.

Some go so far as to carry an extra cellphone or laptop that they use to conduct political business.

The allegations came to light when a former campaign aide, Caroline Cole, charged that Ms. Rose owed her $12,081 in back wages for work she did on Ms. Rose's February special election campaign.

Ms. Cole told the City Hall News publication that Ms. Rose used her CUNY account to e-mail her about campaign issues.

"Mistakes may have occurred in the past," said Rose campaign spokesman Derrick Richardson. "Ms. Rose would be the first to say that she has not knowingly sought to break any laws or skirt any laws to try and advance herself."

Richardson suggested that Ms. Cole may have e-mailed or copied e-mails to Ms. Rose at her CUNY account.

Ms. Rose's campaign is also among those embroiled in the on-going controversy over the relationship between the Working Families Party (WFP), which has endorsed her, and the consulting firm Data and Field Services (DFS).

Critics have said that because the WFP and DFS share staff and the same address there is no difference between the two, and the possibility exists that city campaign spending, contribution and disclosure rules have been circumvented.

There are questions, for example, about whether Ms. Rose and other WFP-backed candidates, including Democratic public advocate hopeful Bill DeBlasio and other Council candidates, received political services -- such as petition-gathering and voter-outreach efforts -- from DFS at below market value.

Mitchell's campaign has filed a complaint with the city Campaign Finance Board (CFB) about the matter.

In a statement regarding all the affected campaigns last week, the CFB said, "The Board makes no determination regarding violations at this time. Every campaign will be afforded the opportunity to be fully heard regarding potential findings of violation."

"We sort of see through this stuff, see it for what it's worth," said Richardson. "It's disconcerting and unwarranted the attacks Ms. Rose has had to bear because she's decided to challenge the status quo on the North Shore."